PIL Against Wine Shop Operation Near Temple During 'Shravan': Allahabad HC Seeks District Excise Officer's Reply
The Allahabad High Court has sought a response from the District Excise Officer, Ayodhya, on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea against the operation of a wine shop near a temple (Shravan Shram Mandir Khiharan in Milkipur, Ayodhya) during the holy month of Shravan.
The PIL, filed by Swami Krishnacharya Alias Kali Prasad Mishra through advocates Harendra Singh and Satish Kumar Sharma, argues that running a wine shop right next to the premises of the temple would cause undue hardship to devotees offering prayer to lordship during Shravan Month.
It is the case that the petitioner had made a complaint to the Deputy Excise Commissioner Ayodhya, but he disposed of the application on the ground that if the shop was closed, the excise department would face losses.
The PIL plea seeks strict actions against the respondent authorities involved in granting a license to the wine shop. Additionally, the plea seeks the removal of the wine shop from next to the temple immediately so that the devotees can offer prayers of Lord Shiva during Shravan.
Hearing the matter on July 22, a bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Shree Prakash Singh sought a personal affidavit of the District Excise Officer, Ayodhya, regarding the procedure adopted for making the mandatory measurement of 100 metres (between a temple and the wine shop).
The Court also sought photographs of the area, i.e., the road on which the wineshop is situated, and the measurements carried out from the old gate and the new gate to the boundary wall of the temple concerned.
The matter will now be heard on July 31.
Case title - Swami Krishnacharya Alias Kali Prasad Mishra vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Excise Deptt. U.P. Govt. Lko. And Others